An approximate 5200km of coastal trail, southwest to northeast, of which considerable portions are still under development. Ideally it should start from Capo de São Vincente, Portugal and end in Narva-Jõesuu, Estonia. However the stretches along the Portuguese and Spanish Atlantic coast are as yet non-existent, as are some parts of the trail in France. From Brittany onwards, along the North Sea coast of Belgium and the Netherlands, and the Baltic coast of Germany and Poland, are a continuous trail. Only to be halted at the Poland-Kaliningrad border. Here, the E9 ends. Plans for its continuation in the Baltic States have not been realised yet.

From Roscoff in France, instead of continuing along the coast, there is an alternative route crossing over to the UK by ferry and walking a 711km section (or 719km if you include the Isle of Wight) from Plymouth to Dover along the British south coast. From Dover take a ferry back to Ostend where the trails then rejoin.

PositiveI did walk parts of the E9 in the Netherlands, Poland and England. Some parts are stunningly beautiful, others are boring, but the best is that you walk the history of Europe and get to know so many different countries that are in the same time so closely related.

NegativeSome boring stuff. The trail is not or rarely marked as E9, so you must find out the itinerary yourself (well: more a "like" than a "dislike").

PositiveMost of the path is located on the coast. Because I love to swim (regardless from the season) during the breaks I could go to swim in the Baltic Sea. On the E9 in polish area is one National Prak and a lot of Landscape Parks (Wysoczyzny Elbląskiej, Trójmiejski Park Krajobrazowy; Nadmorski Park Krajobrazowy, ect)

Friesland, in the north of the Netherlands, is a flat and open country. Meadows, scattered farms, ancient villages, and the sea. Walking on a dike you stick out high above this land and the sea and you will enjoy great views. The Friese Kustpad - ...

Facts

Use the left menu to find any trail. Wanderbares Deutschland (Wanderful Germany) is a very good webpage, created and maintained by the German Walking Association, Deutscher Wanderverband. You will find many trails, including sketch maps, descriptions (often also in English), relevant guides and maps, and so on.

Wanderbares Deutschland offers the trail information for Germany on behalf of the Deutscher Wanderverband (German Ramblers' Association). Click on "Übersicht Europäische Wanderwege" on the left, to get to the information of the E-Paths.

Actually, if you walked all the way from Portugal to Estonia, you will be surprised the E9 is there! It is not finished, there are big gaps still. But probably the Estonians will accomplish their task before other countries. OK, the language here is a problem. But try translation tools and you'll find .. the real maps!!

Guides and maps

Lodging

Organisations

Platform for hiking in Germany. The Wanderverband is an association for the many local German hiking organisations. Germany has a rich hiking tradition, and many many local organisations. The website offers a good overview of hiking possibilities. However, the description of the different trails should be looked for at a different website: Wanderbares Deutschland (http://www.wanderbares-deutschland.de). The Deutscher Wanderverband is member of the European Ramblers' Association.

Estonian walking/hiking organisation, providing some info on hiking trails. Some English text, including a picture of a group on mountainbike through a cornfield. Google isn't too good in translating Estonian either. The organisation is member of the European Ramblers' Orgnisation and so they have the opportunity to connect Europe with Russia via the European Long Distance Trail E9.

Official website of the French Federation for Long Distance Hiking. Offering all you need for hiking in France. The FFRP maintains all long distance hikes - Grandes Randonnées - in France. The organisation participates in the European Ramblers' Organisation.

Long Distance Paths Association of French speaking Belgium, Wallonia, giving short info on all trails in Belgium, a clickable map, a webshop to order guidebooks and maps online. Some info on lodging too. The organisation is member of the European Ramblers' Organisation and takes care of the E-Paths in Wallonia.

Long Distance Paths Association of Flanders / Belgium. giving short info on all trails in Belgium, a clickable map, a webshop to order guidebooks and maps online. Online info on lodging is for members only. The Stichting Grote Routepaden is member of the European Ramblers' Association, and they are responsible for the Belgium trajects of E2, E3 and E9.

As they write: "The LDWA is an Association of people with the common interest of walking long distances in rural, mountainous or moorland areas." The Long Distance Walking Association is member of the European Ramblers' Association.

The Dutch Long Distance Hikes are called LAW, the equivalent of the French GR. This organisation - Stichting Wandelnet - plans and maintains the paths, and publishes the guides of the 40 or so long distance hikes. Recent route changes can be found here. There is a section with all trails loaded in Google Maps. Stichting Wandelnet is member of the European Ramblers' Organisation and maintans the E-paths in The Netherlands.

Tour operators

GPS

Other

Isle of Wight with the Southampton - Portsmouth area, including part of the New Forest National Park and a section of the E9 European Long-distance Path, on a paper version of map No. 196 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist information.MOBILE DOWNLOADS: As...Read more

Taunton and Lyme Regis area, including a section of the South West Coast Path / E9 European Long-distance Path, on a paper version of map No. 193 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist information.MOBILE DOWNLOADS: As well as the physical edition of the map,...Read more

Ashford and Romney Marsh area, including sections of the North Downs Way and the E9 European Long-distance Path, on a waterproof and tear-resistant OS Active version of map No. 189 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist information.MOBILE DOWNLOADS: As well as...Read more

Chichester and Bognor Regis area, including the South Downs National Park and a section of the South Downs Way / E9 European Long-distance Path, on a paper version of map No. 197 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist information.MOBILE DOWNLOADS: As well as...Read more

Bournemouth and the Isle of Purbeck area, including part of the New Forest National Park and a section of the South West Coast Path / E9 European Long-distance Path, on a paper version of map No. 195 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist information.MOBILE...Read more

Exeter and Sidmouth area, including a section of the South West Coast Path / E9 European Long-distance Path, on a waterproof and tear-resistant OS Active version of map No. 192 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist information.MOBILE DOWNLOADS: As well as the...Read more

Brighton and Lewes area, including the South Downs National Park and a section of the South Downs Way / E9 European Long-distance Path, on a paper version of map No. 198 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist information.MOBILE DOWNLOADS: As well as the...Read more

Chichester and Bognor Regis area, including the South Downs National Park and a section of the South Downs Way / E9 European Long-distance Path, on a waterproof and tear-resistant OS Active version of map No. 197 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist...Read more

Dorchester and Weymouth area, including a section of the South West Coast Path / E9 European Long-distance Path, on a waterproof and tear-resistant OS Active version of map No. 194 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist information.MOBILE DOWNLOADS: As well as...Read more

Eastern Kent with Canterbury, Dover and Margate, including sections of the North Downs Way and the E2 and E9 European Long-Distance Paths, on a paper version of map No. 179 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist information.MOBILE DOWNLOADS: As well as the...Read more

Brighton and Lewes area, including the South Downs National Park and a section of the South Downs Way / E9 European Long-distance Path, on a waterproof and tear-resistant OS Active version of map No. 198 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist...Read more

Eastbourne and Hastings area, including the Seven Sisters and sections of the South Downs Way and the E9 European Long-distance Path, on a paper version of map No. 199 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist information.MOBILE DOWNLOADS: As well as the physical...Read more

Taunton and Lyme Regis area, including a section of the South West Coast Path / E9 European Long-distance Path, on a waterproof and tear-resistant OS Active version of map No. 193 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist information.MOBILE DOWNLOADS: As well as...Read more

Purbeck and the southern part of Dorset on a detailed topographic and GPS compatible map OL15, paper version, from the Ordnance Survey’s 1:25,000 Explorer series. Coverage extends from Poole and Swanage in the east to Bridport in the west, and includes Dorchester, Tolpuddle, Bere Regis, Wareham, Weymouth, Chesil Beach, Portland Bill, the final...Read more

Eastbourne and Hastings area, including the Seven Sisters and sections of the South Downs Way and the E9 European Long-distance Path, on a waterproof and tear-resistant OS Active version of map No. 199 from the Ordnance Survey’s Landranger series at 1:50,000, with contoured and GPS compatible topographic mapping plus tourist information.MOBILE...Read more

thru-hiking the E9

hi, i'm going to attempt to thru-hike (start to finish in one go) the E9 from portugal to estland. im from Belgium and will leave for portugal on the 10th of april 2016. now i hardly find any documentation besides Germany and the Netherlands. wat i realy want to know is issent there like a somewhat complete guide or a list of connecting trails to help me realise my dream? if not im still going for it and will make up my own path ^^

Hi there!
No, you will not find a thru-guide. Your plan is a real challenge, and more so because you will have to collect the bits and pieces of information yourself. You will find gpx's in Traildino Mobile or http://hiking.waymarkedtrails.org/en/
The trail may have gaps in Portugal, but I'm not sure. Spain is fine, excellent even. Then in France, the worst part is between the Gironde and Loire. From them on it will be a very pretty walk all the way to Kaliningrad. By the way: Poland is excellent, I did parts there myself. In the Baltic States, the E9 is non existent, But there will be other trails and/or coastal paths.
Are you planning to add the trail to OpenStreetMap? Would be handy to everybody.